Syria refugees multimedia series – ‘Where the war still echoes’

NAIROBI, 2 May 2013 (IRIN) - This new IRIN film series, Where the war still echoes, follows a Syrian refugee family over the course of a year, from their arrival in Jordan in December 2012. It is an intimate view of their struggles to adjust to camp life, and cope with the violence at home. full report

Arab cities aim to build resilience to natural disasters

AQABA, 29 April 2013 (IRIN) - Prevention may be better than a cure, but for the authorities in Arab cities and towns, natural disasters up to now have been largely about coping with them after they have taken place. full report

Promised aid funding for Syria reaches half-way point

DUBAI, 18 April 2013 (IRIN) - Nearly three months ago, donors pledged $1.5 billion in humanitarian aid for the Syrian crisis. Today, Kuwait announced the transfer of its pledge of $300 million to international aid agencies and with that, half of the pledges have been fulfilled. IRIN takes a look at the status of the remaining pledges made in Kuwait, as aid agencies threaten to suspend their work for lack of funding. full report

Despite new police presence, security concerns persist at Syrian refugee camp

MAFRAQ, 3 April 2013 (IRIN) - The Jordanian government is implementing new measures to improve security for the Syrian refugees at Za’atari camp, where theft, riots, fires and throwing stones has become commonplace. But aid workers say the new police presence is limited by funding constraints and has yet to make a difference. full report

Syria’s brain drain – another twist to the country’s crisis

DUBAI, 26 March 2013 (IRIN) - The exodus of educated and skilled Syrians is increasingly depleting the country’s workforce and the quality of its health services, already strained by two years of conflict. IRIN spoke to professionals inside and outside Syria about the difficult choice they faced and the impacts of their decisions to stay or leave - both on themselves and their country. full report

Disaster Risk Reduction in the Arab world

AQABA, 20 March 2013 (IRIN) - Nearly 300 government officials, scientists, aid workers and activists from across the Arab world are working together in Jordan to draw up the first joint regional platform for disaster risk reduction (DRR). full report

Export oil, import water – the Middle East’s risky economics

DUBAI, 5 March 2013 (IRIN) - The world’s driest region, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is getting drier at an alarming rate. full report

Jordanians driven further into poverty

JORDAN VALLEY, 22 February 2013 (IRIN) - The 4,000 people of Fifa village in northwestern Jordan rely on seasonal agricultural work in the Jordan Valley, sheep-breeding, and cash and material assistance from the Social Development Ministry, but they and many others are being driven further into poverty. full report

Breakdown of Syria aid pledges in Kuwait

KUWAIT CITY, 1 February 2013 (IRIN) - The international community pledged more than US$1.5 billion in humanitarian aid to Syria on 30 January, in the most successful fundraising conference in UN history - meant to meet the needs of two UN appeals: full report